It has never happened before, and it may never happen again. The merger of a spirits business with a brewer to create one marketing organisation has previously seemed as unlikely as sticking household cleaners together with financial services. Yet Diageo has announced it is to smash its two core marketing divisions – the UDV spirits […]
Duckworth Finn Grubb Waters has been appointed to handle the advertising for the launch of Mothercare’s online retail site, said to be worth &£3m. The site, Mothercare.com, is already up and running, but a full scale launch will take place in September supported by a press and poster campaign. Walker Media (?) will handle the […]
The Loi Evin, the French law which prevents alcohol and tobacco advertising at some sporting events, is to be challenged in the European Court of Justice (ECJ). The case, which has arisen out of a UK court battle between Newcastle United Football Club (NUFC) and Bacardi-Martini and a French wine company, could finally spell the […]
Galaxy radio was asking for trouble taking 26 agency representatives to a party in Ibiza. But it wasn’t the behaviour of the agency gang that they needed to worry about – it was the antics of Galaxy’s very own brand director, Nick Button. Galaxy’s party animal got to Ibiza in the small hours of Friday […]
ONdigital chief executive Stuart Prebble’s objective of achieving a leading position in the pay-TV market “even if we were incompetent” may be questioned even now (MW July 13). The photograph of ONdigital’s TV e-mail shows that even spelling “address” correctly is beyond it. Perhaps Prebble should consult more Web-heads before trying to convince us all […]
Ad agency banc has been saddled with the task of setting the record straight about German wine-drinking habits – and has come up with the catchline “If you think you know German wine, drink again”. As part of the drive, German wine bottles have also undergone a facelift, with new labels featuring modern art designs, […]
UK domestic utility company npower is understood to be introducing a special discounted tariff for its online subscribers. Energy industry regulator Ofgem is unaware of any other utility companies offering services on- and offline providing a special discount to Internet customers. The new product called Internet Tariff is expected to offer a discount of up […]
How United treats its online assets after selling its TV interests will determine how it values itself – and could set a precedent for Net businesses, says George Pitcher
Capital Radio head of marketing Vijay Solanki has quit to join IPC Media as marketing director of its music and sport division. It is the first in a number of senior marketing appointments to be made as part of a marketing strategy instigated by new group marketing director Philippa Brown. Solanki will report to both […]
Lloyds TSB has promoted its below-the-line marketing chief to take over from customer segment director Graham Pilkington, who resigned two weeks ago to join Alliance & Leicester (MW July 13). Former marketing communications director David Lewis has already taken up Pilkington’s role, which is the most senior marketing position at the bank after group marketing […]
As outdoor clients demand increasingly pan-European campaigns, the need for a continental version of Postar is becoming all too apparent.
Automotive design and technology suppliers have always had a low profile. But they are now seeking to raise their brand awareness
Kwik Save is to launch an own-label range of products carrying a new logo for the chain as part of a recovery programme, which will also include a facelift for its 750 stores. The supermarket phased out its value own-label No Frills range from February 1999, replacing it with the Somerfield Basics range. This will […]
Former Adidas global marketing chief Jan Valdmaa has been appointed chief executive of Norwegian outdoor-wear brand Helly Hansen. Valdmaa succeeds Erik Stensrud, whose three-year contract has expired. Stensrud is believed not to be seeking another position at the moment for personal reasons. In a separate development, Helly Hansen chief operating officer and former managing director […]
The conference trade is a booming business for hotels, yet many are still inflexible about catering for delegates’ needs. How can they afford to be so blasé about customer service?